Icarus

Every smile makes him lighter,
each forgiveness drops
a stone from the ankles.
Floating is such sweetness
and there are limitless heights
above, and within.
Until he’s gone high, beyond the air,
into the nothings we only imagine,
where all the natural world is reaching
and plucks him;
burning and freezing, apologies
wheezing out from collapsing lungs,
as he plummets to the bitter earth.